Turbomachine with an insert device that can be arranged inside a recess of a wall

ABSTRACT

A turbomachine having a wall that extends circumferentially to a central axis of the turbomachine at least in certain areas, and having at least one insert device that can be connected in a releasable manner to a wall in the area of a recess which is arranged inside the wall. The insert device has a connection device by means of which the insert device can be brought into operative connection with a connection device of the wall. The connection device of the insert device has a projection that extends in the radial direction of the turbomachine at least in certain areas in the mounted state of the insert device, and that in the mounted state of the insert device meshes in a groove of the connection device of the wall. The connection device of the wall has a projection that extends in the radial direction of the turbomachine at least in certain areas in the mounted state of the insert device, and that, in the mounted state of the insert device, meshes in a groove of the connection device of the insert device.

This application claims priority to German Patent Application DE102016101168.1 filed Jan. 22, 2016, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The invention relates to a turbomachine with a wall that at least in certain areas extends circumferentially with respect to a central axis of the turbomachine, and with at least one insert device that can be connected at the wall in a releasable manner in the area of a recess that is arranged inside the wall according to the kind that is defined more closely in the generic term of claim 1.

What is known from practice is a jet engine with a wall that is enclosing a flow channel. In order to create an access area through the wall to an interior of the jet engine, the wall has a recess that can be closed with an insert plate, e.g. an access panel, wherein the insert plate is connected at the wall in a releasable manner at the circumferential side through a plurality of screws.

In order to achieve a desired tightness against air leakage and to achieve a high degree of stability of the connection areas between the insert plate and the wall, the insert plate is held at the wall by a large number of screws that surround the insert plate at the circumferential edge. However, this disadvantageously renders mounting or dismantling of such an insert plate laborious. In addition, fire or flame resistance may possibly be achieved only in a very laborious manner.

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a turbomachine of the kind as it is mentioned above, in which an insert device can be brought into operative connection with the wall in the area of a recess in a simple and quick manner, wherein the connection area has a high stability and a tightness between the wall and the insert device during operation of the turbomachine is also improved.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved through a turbomachine with the features of the claim 1.

What is proposed is a turbomachine having a wall that at least in certain areas extends circumferentially with respect to a central axis of the turbomachine and having at least one insert device that can be connected at the wall in a releasable manner in the area of a recess which is arranged inside the wall, wherein the insert device has a connection device by means of which the insert device can be brought into operative connection with a connection device of the wall.

According to the invention, the connection device of the insert device has a projection that extends substantially in the radial direction of the turbomachine at least in certain areas in the mounted state of the insert device and that meshes in a groove of the connection device of the wall in the mounted state of the insert device, and wherein the connection device of the wall has a projection that in the mounted state of the insert device extends substantially in the radial direction of the turbomachine at least in certain areas and that meshes in a groove of the connection device of the insert device in the mounted state of the insert device.

In a turbomachine according to the invention, the insert device can be brought into operative connection with the wall in the area of the recess in a simple and quick manner by means of a plug mechanism that is formed by the projections and grooves. Further, through the connection mechanism according to the invention, forces that are acting during operation of the turbomachine can be guided through the insert device, so that the insert device is included in the flow of forces of the wall. For this purpose, the connection directions are in particular embodied so as to be substantially complementary to each other. Since the loads that are acting during operation of the turbomachine in the area of the wall can thus be transmitted through the insert device, the recess and the insert device can advantageously be embodied so as to be large, so that accessibility through the recess is improved.

In addition, the coaction of the connection device of the insert device and the connection device of the wall by means of the coacting projections and grooves, a good sealing effect is created between the insert device and the wall, so that an air leakage is avoided in a particularly reliable manner during operation of the turbomachine. In addition, through the coaction of the connection devices, a connection with a high fire or flame resistance is created between the insert device and the wall in a constructionally simple manner.

At that, starting from a web-shaped area of the wall, the projection of the wall extends substantially in an opposite direction with respect to an extension direction of the projection of the insert device that starts form a web-shaped area of the insert device. The groove and the projection of the insert device and the wall are in particular arranged in an edge area of the insert device that is facing towards the wall or in an edge area of the wall that is facing towards the insert device, so that the connection device of the insert device forms a lateral end piece of the insert device and the connection device of the wall forms a lateral end piece of the wall. The groove and the projection of the insert device and of the wall in particular extend substantially along the edge area of the insert device or along the edge area of the wall.

In an embodiment of the turbomachine according to the invention that advantageously requires little installation space, the projection of the insert device or of the wall has a surface that is also a surface of the groove of the insert device or of the wall.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the insert device can be brought in mesh with the wall in a simple manner if the projection of the insert device and the projection of the wall are embodied in such a manner that the insert device can be brought in mesh with the wall in a translational motion.

In an embodiment of the invention that is developed further with respect to the retention force and the sealing effect between the insert device and the wall is achieved when the wall and the insert device respectively have multiple projections and grooves, which in particular respectively extend along an edge area of the wall or of the insert device, and which are preferably arranged so as to adjoin each other in an alternating manner starting from an edge area of the insert device or of the wall in the direction of the central area of the insert device or in a direction opposite thereto.

In a constructionally simple embodiment of the turbomachine according to the invention, the grooves and the projections of the insert device and the grooves and the projections of the wall form a wave-shaped or a jagged profile in the cross-section.

If the projection and/or the groove of the insert device and/or of the wall is or are embodied so as to be circumferentially distributed with respect to an edge area of the insert device that is facing the wall, or so as to be circumferentially distributed with respect to an edge area of the wall that is facing the insert device, an embodiment is created that is advantageous with respect to tightness and force transmission, which in addition is particularly easy to mount. As an alternative to this, the connection device of the insert device and/or the connection device of the wall can also have one or multiple areas which only partially run along the circumference of the respective edge area.

In order to keep the insert device secured at the wall in the mounted position, the insert device can be retained at the wall in the area of the recess in the mounted position of the insert device by at least one attachment means. But since forces are already transferred between the insert device and the wall through the coaction of the connection devices, the number of the attachment means necessary for achieving a stable and sealed connection is advantageously reduced as compared to the embodiments known from practice. The attachment means, which can for example be embodied as screws, can for example act together with respectively one female thread, which is preferably arranged so as to be substantially flush with a surface of the insert device that is arranged so as to be facing inward in the radial direction in the mounted position of the insert device.

In an embodiment of the turbomachine according to the invention that is easy to mount, the insert device has a handle-like element at a side that is located radially outside in mounted position of the insert device.

Preferably, the insert device and the wall have a comparable and in particular identical structure in the cross-section, and are preferably embodied respectively with a sound-absorbing middle layer, an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer as well as the outer layer can respectively be embodied in a multi-layer manner, wherein the respective layers are in particular embodied with a composite material, a metal, for example aluminum, or with carbon, and are for example perforated. The respective layer can for example be embodied as an injection-molded part.

In an advantageous embodiment of the turbomachine according to the invention, the connection device of the insert device and/or the connection device of the wall is or are formed by the middle layer and/or the outer layer and/or the inner layer of the wall or of the insert device.

If, in the mounted state, the insert device delimits a flow channel on a side that is internal with respect to the radial direction of the turbomachine and the projection of the insert device is connected to a web of the insert device that, in the mounted position of the insert device, is arranged on a side of a web of the wall that is internal with respect to the radial direction of the turbomachine and via which the projection is connected to the wall, the insert device is advantageously retained in its position in which it is acting together with the wall through a pressure that is acting in the area of the flow channel during operation of the turbomachine. As an alternative to this, it can also be provided that, in the mounted position of the insert device, the web of the insert device is arranged on a side of the web of the wall that is exterior with respect to the radial direction of the turbomachine.

In an advantageous embodiment of a turbomachine according to the invention, the wall has a frame structure that forms multiple recesses, wherein multiple insert devices are provided, which respectively have a frame that substantially corresponds to a shape of the recess of the frame structure, and wherein each insert device can be brought into operative connection with the frame structure in the area of a recess in a releasable manner. In principle, the recesses formed by the frame structure can have any shape. Independently of that, the wall can also be embodied without a frame structure, for example with recesses that are substantially shaped in a rectangular, oval, elliptical or otherwise shaped manner.

If the recesses of the frame structure that is in particular embodied with rod-shaped elements and the insert devices that are in particular embodied in a plate-shaped manner are configured so as to be triangle-shaped, the guiding of all forces that are acting at the wall during operation of the turbomachine are improved by the insert devices. Loads that act in the area of the wall during operation of the turbomachine can advantageously be guided through the insert devices and the frame structure of the wall in all orientations, i.e. also if they act obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction and/or the circumferential direction of the turbomachine. Thus, the recesses or maintenance openings can be advantageously embodied so as to be large, without the flow of forces being negatively impacted in the area of the wall. In this manner, all areas of the turbomachine that have to be reached through the recesses can be made accessible already with a small number of recesses.

In addition, in the embodiment according to the invention, comparatively large recesses can advantageously be provided even in the turbomachines that are embodied in a small manner, so that accessibility of areas located inside the recesses, such as for example a core engine, is improved, for example for maintenance purposes for a worker. Accessibility of the inner areas is in particular improved when the frame structure comprises multiple insert devices that are embodied in a modular manner.

Apart from the triangle-shaped embodiment of the recesses of the frame structure, they can also be embodied in a hexagon-shaped and/or octagon-shaped manner, wherein the recesses can be brought into operative connection with insert devices that are correspondingly embodied in a hexagon-shaped and/or octagon-shaped manner.

Here, the frame structure in particular represents a skeleton-like, load-bearing structure that is preferably formed by multiple straight or bent rod-shaped elements that are connected to each other. The frame structure can form a spatial frame, a so-called space frame, or a framework structure, a so-called truss structure.

In an advantageous embodiment of a turbomachine according to the invention it is provided that the frame structure of the wall completely surrounds the axial area of the turbomachine in the circumferential direction of the turbomachine, and that preferably in all recesses formed by the frame structure insert devices can be arranged that can be released independently from each other, preferably insert devices that are embodied in a modular manner. Through the insert devices and the frame structure preferably a closed sleeve is formed in the circumferential direction of the turbomachine.

In a further development of the turbomachine according to the invention, the guiding of forces which occur during operation of the turbomachine is improved due to the fact that the frame structure forms exclusively triangle-shaped recesses, with which respectively one insert device can be brought in operative connection in a releasable manner.

Manufacture and mounting of the insert devices is particularly easy and cost-effective if all recesses of the frame structure are embodied in a structurally identical manner and if all insert devices are embodied in a structurally identical manner at least with respect to their shape and their connection areas. In this manner, each insert device can be connected to the frame structure in the area of any recess of the frame structure, and insert devices can be switched in a simple manner if necessary.

In an embodiment of the turbomachine according to the invention that can be realized in a constructionally simple and cost-effective manner, the frame structure has two ring-shaped frame elements that are arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the turbomachine, wherein respectively one corner point of a recess is assigned to a ring-shaped frame element of the frame structure, and two corner points of the recess are assigned to the other ring-shaped frame element of the frame structure.

When it comes to guiding forces acting during operation of the turbomachine through the insert devices, it is advantageous if the two corner points of a recess that are assigned to the ring-shaped frame element of the frame structure are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to a straight line that runs through the corner point that is assigned to the other ring-shaped frame element of the frame structure in the longitudinal direction of the turbomachine, wherein the recesses preferably form isosceles triangles.

If at least one further third ring-shaped frame element of the frame structure is provided on a side of the second ring-shaped frame element that is facing away from the first ring-shaped frame element, with multiple recesses, in particular recesses that are formed in a triangular manner, being formed at the circumferential side through the frame structure between the second ring-shaped frame element and the third ring-shaped frame element, the frame structure can have a large extension in the longitudinal direction of the turbomachine in a simple and stable manner.

In an advantageous embodiment of the turbomachine according to the invention, a retention device is arranged for external connection of the turbomachine in the area of a ring-shaped frame element of the frame structure. Here, forces that act during operation of the turbomachine can advantageously be transmitted via the retention device.

If the retention device is arranged in an area of the second ring-shaped frame element, which is assigned multiple, in particular six, corner points of different recesses of the frame structure, a retention of the turbomachine is possible for example in an area of the frame structure that is central with respect to the longitudinal direction of the turbomachine. The provision of the frame structure with multiple ring-shaped frame elements thus facilitates a flexible arrangement of the retention device in the longitudinal direction of the turbomachine.

In an advantageous embodiment of the turbomachine according to the invention, the wall that comprises the frame structure and the insert devices circumferentially surrounds or encloses a flow channel, in particular a bypass channel or a core flow channel of a turbomachine that is in particular embodied as a jet engine. If the wall delimits the bypass channel externally with respect to the radial direction, by removing the respective insert device, an access to a desired area of the core engine can be facilitated in a simple manner through the thus opened recess, for example for maintenance work.

If at least one insert device can be pre-assembled with at least one constructional unit, the insert devices can be made available in a simple manner with the respective constructional units, so that the insert devices can be mounted at the frame structure in one mounting step together with the respective constructional unit. Thus, additional constructional units can be arranged at the frame structure in a simple manner without any elaborate modification of the frame structure. The constructional unit can for example be a surface cooler, wherein the constructional unit is preferably arranged at the side of the insert device that is facing away from the flow channel in the mounted state of the insert device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the insert devices can advantageously be embodied without fastening devices for the constructional units that are to be attached at the wall if the frame structure has connection points for connecting the constructional units.

The features specified in the patent claims as well as features specified in the following exemplary embodiments of the turbomachine according to the invention are suitable respectively alone or in any combination with each other to further develop the subject matter according to the invention.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of a turbomachine according to the invention result form the patent claims and the exemplary embodiments that are described in principle in the following by referring to the drawing, wherein with a view to clarity respectively the same reference signs are used for structurally and functionally identical components.

Herein:

FIG. 1 shows a strongly schematized longitudinal section of a jet engine with a bypass channel which is delimited by a wall at the exterior side;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified view of a part of the jet engine according to FIG. 1, wherein a frame structure of the wall can be seen in more detail;

FIG. 3 shows a simplified three-dimensional rendering of a section of the jet engine according to FIG. 2, wherein plate-shaped insert devices are respectively inserted inside recesses that are formed by the frame structure, and wherein a retention device is arranged at a downstream ring-shaped frame element of the frame structure for connecting the jet engine to an aircraft;

FIG. 4 shows a rendering of the jet engine that substantially corresponds to FIG. 3, wherein a retention device is arranged at a central one of three ring-shaped frame elements of the frame structure for connecting the jet engine to an aircraft;

FIGS. 5-7 show simplified renderings of a section of the jet engine according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 shows a simplified rendering of a frame structure of the wall of the jet engine according to FIG. 1 in isolation;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of multiple insert devices in isolation, which are provided for acting together with the frame structure according to FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10-13 show simplified three-dimensional views of a section of the wall of the jet engine according to FIG. 1, wherein an insert device is embodied with a connection device that can be brought into operative connection with a connection device of the wall in the area of a recess of the wall;

FIGS. 14-16 show three-dimensional views of a section of the wall of the jet engine according to FIG. 1, wherein an insert device is shown with a further embodiment of a connection device that can be brought into operative connection with a connection device of the wall in the area of a recess of the wall;

FIG. 17 shows a strongly simplified rendering of a structure of the wall and of the insert device according to one of FIGS. 1 to 16;

FIG. 18 shows a strongly simplified sectional rendering of a section of the wall of the jet engine according to FIG. 1, wherein an insert device can be brought into operative connection with a connection device of the wall by means of an alternatively embodied connection device;

FIGS. 19, 20 show strongly simplified renderings of different embodiments of the connection device of the insert device and of the connection device of the wall according to FIG. 18; and

FIG. 21 shows a strongly simplified rendering of an alternatively embodied wall of the bypass channel of the jet engine according to FIG. 1, wherein the wall is embodied with four recesses that can respectively be closed with an insert device.

FIG. 1 shows a continuous-flow machine or a turbomachine that is embodied as a jet engine 10 in which the invention can be used. However, as will become clear in the following, the invention can also be used with different turbomachines.

The jet engine or aircraft engine 10 is configured in a conventional manner and comprises, arranged successively in flow direction A, an air inlet 11, a fan 12 that rotates inside a housing, an intermediate pressure compressor 13, a high pressure compressor 14, combustion chambers 15, a high pressure turbine 16, an intermediate pressure turbine 17 and a low-pressure turbine 18 as well as an exhaust nozzle 19, which are all arranged around a central engine axis 1.

The intermediate pressure compressor 13 and the high pressure compressor 14 respectively comprise multiple stages, of which each has an arrangement of fixedly arranged stationary guide blades/vanes 20 that extend in the circumferential direction and are generally referred to as stator blades/vanes and which project radially inward from the engine shroud 21 through the compressors 13, 14 into a ring-shaped flow channel or core flow channel 31. Further, the compressors have an arrangement of compressor rotor blades/vanes 22 that project radially outward from a rotatable drum or disc 26 and which are coupled to hubs 27 of the high pressure turbine 16 or the intermediate pressure turbine 17.

The turbine sections 16, 17, 18 have similar stages, comprising an arrangement of stationary guide blades/vanes 23 projecting radially inward from the housing 21 through the turbines 16, 17, 18 into the ring-shaped core flow channel 31, and a subsequent arrangement of turbine blades/vanes 24 projecting outwards from the rotatable hub 27. During operation, the compressor drum or compressor disc 26 and the blades/vanes 22 arranged thereon as well as the turbine rotor hub 27 and the turbine rotor blades/vanes 24 arranged thereon rotate around the engine axis 1. The reference sign 28 indicates an outlet cone.

Downstream of the fan 4, the fluid flow that is supplied to the jet engine through the air inlet 11 is divided into a bypass flow and a core flow, wherein the bypass flow flows through a bypass channel 30 that is embodied in a cylindrical or conical manner, and the core flow flows into the engine core or core flow channel 31. In the circumferential direction U of the jet engine 10 or of the gas turbine engine, the bypass channel 30 as well as the core flow channel 31 are delimited by a wall 32, 33, 34, 35 at least in certain areas in the flow direction A at a side that is interior and a side that is exterior with respect to the radial direction R of the jet engine 10.

In the following, the wall 32 that is delimiting the bypass channel 30 on the radially exterior side is discussed in more detail, wherein the walls 33, 34, 35 can in principle be embodied in a way comparable to the wall 32.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 respectively show a section of the jet engine 10, wherein the wall 32 can be seen in more detail. Here, the wall 32 is embodied with a skeleton-like frame structure 36 that forms a load-bearing structure. In the present case, the frame structure 36 has three ring-shaped frame elements 37, 38, 39 that are arranged at a distance from each other in the flow direction A, wherein in the present case a distance in flow direction A between the first ring-shaped frame element 37 and the second ring-shaped frame element 38 corresponds to a distance between the second ring-shaped frame element 38 and the third ring-shaped frame element 39. The first ring-shaped frame element 37 and the second ring-shaped frame element 38 as well as the second ring-shaped frame element 38 and the third ring-shaped frame element 39 are connected to each other respectively by a plurality of further frame elements 40 that are embodied in a rod-shaped manner.

In the present case, only triangle-shaped recesses 42 are formed by the ring-shaped frame elements 37, 38, 39 and the further frame elements 40, wherein respectively a first corner point 44 of the triangular recesses 42 is assigned to a ring-shaped frame element 37 or 38 or 39, and the other two corner points 45, 46 of the recess 42 are assigned to a neighboring ring-shaped frame element 37 or 38 or 39. In the present case, the two further corner points 45 and 46 are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner in all recesses 42 with respect to a straight line that runs through the first corner point 44 in the flow direction A, with the recesses 42 preferably forming isosceles triangles.

In the present case, the wall 32 further has a plurality of plate-shaped insert devices 48 which are shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 and which are configured with a substantially identical shape and can respectively be brought into operative connection with the frame structure 36 in a releasable manner in the area of a recess 42. Due to the fact that the insert devices 48 are embodied with substantially the same shape, in the present case each insert device 48 can be brought into operative connection with the frame structure 36 in the area of each recess 42. The insert devices 48 are respectively embodied so as to be bent in the circumferential direction U.

FIG. 3 shows, in a strongly schematized manner, an insert device 49 that is connected to a constructional unit, which here is embodied as a surface cooler 51, on a side that is facing away from the bypass channel 30. The insert device 49 can be pre-assembled in a simple manner together with the surface cooler 51 and can be arranged at the frame structure 36 in one work step together with the surface cooler 51.

What can further be seen in FIG. 3 is a retention device 53 that is arranged in the area of the third ring-shaped frame element 39 and that is provided for connecting the jet engine 10 at an aircraft. Here, the third ring-shaped frame element 39 is arranged substantially in the same cross-sectional plane of the jet engine 10 as the so-called A-Frames 59.

In contrast to that, in the embodiment according to FIG. 4, a retention device 54 for connecting the jet engine 10 at an aircraft is connected to the second ring-shaped frame element 38 in an area to which six corner points of adjoining recesses 42 are assigned in the present case. Here, loads that are occurring during operation of the jet engine 10 can be transferred in an advantageous manner to the A-frames 59 that are arranged in the area of the third ring-shaped frame element 39 via the further frame elements 40 that are indicated by arrows 56 and 57.

FIG. 5 to FIG. 11 again respectively show a part of the jet engine 10, wherein in the present case the wall 32 has a frame structure 61 that is embodied with two ring-shaped frame elements 37, 38. Further frame elements 40 in turn connect the ring-shaped frame elements 37, 38 in such a manner that circumferentially distributed triangle-shaped recesses 42 are formed, which are embodied in a substantially identical manner in the present case.

As can in particular be gathered form FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, in the present case an insert device 50 is coupled to a pre-cooling device 52, which can be brought into operative connection with the frame structure 61 in a simple manner on a first side of the jet engine 10 as well as on a second side of the jet engine 10 which is arranged opposite the first side, for example. At that, the pre-cooling device 52 can have a flap device 55 through which air can be extracted from the bypass channel 30 to a desired amount during operation of the jet engine 10. Here, an actuator 58 that actuates the flap device 55 can advantageously be arranged with the insert device 50 on a side of the wall 32 that is facing away from the bypass channel 30.

Apart from the embodiment of the frame structure with two or three ring-shaped frame elements, in embodiments that are not shown in any more detail the frame structure can also have four or more ring-shaped frame elements, which in particular can be connected to further frame elements in the manner more closely described above, wherein respectively one insert device can be inserted into recesses formed by the frame structure and can be brought into operative connection with the frame structure.

The insert devices 48 that are shown in isolation in FIG. 9, just like the insert devices 49 and 50, can be brought into operative connection with the frame structure 61 that is shown in isolation in FIG. 8, as will be described more closely in the following. In a comparable manner, the insert devices 48, 49, 50 can also be brought into operative connection with the frame structure 36 in the area of the recesses 42.

The insert device 48 has a connection device 64 which can be seen in more detail in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, and which here is embodied so as to completely surround the insert device in the area of an edge area 67 of the insert device 48 that is facing towards the frame structure 61. The frame structure 61 is configured with a connection device 65 that is arranged in the edge area 68 of the frame elements 37 to 40 of the frame structure 61 that is facing towards the insert device 48, wherein in the present case the connection device 65 of the frame structure 61 is embodied so as to run along the entire edge area 68.

The connection device 64 has a web 71 which, starting from a central central area 70 of the insert device 48, is arranged in an area that is facing towards the bypass channel 30 in the mounted position of the insert device 48, and which is embodied with a substantially V-shaped or U-shaped projection 72 or protrusion that extends substantially outwards with respect to the radial direction R on a side that is facing away from the central area 70. A V-shaped or U-shaped groove 73 that is open substantially outwards with respect to the radial direction R is formed by the projection 72, the web 71, and the central area 70, wherein a surface 74, which is facing towards the central area 70 and is substantially rectilinear in the radial direction R in the shown cross-section, represents a part of the projection 72 as well as part of the groove 73.

In the cross-section, the connection device 65 of the frame structure 61 is embodied in a substantially mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to the connection device 64 of the insert device 48, and also has a projection 77 or a protrusion, which here is connected via a web 79 to a central area 78 of the frame element 40, so that the projection 77 is connected to the web 79 on a side of the web 79 that is facing away from the central area 78. The web 79 is in turn arranged in an area of the frame element 40 that is facing away from the bypass channel 30 in mounted position of the insert device 48. Here, the projection 77 extends substantially inward in the radial direction R starting from the web 79 and is embodied in a substantially V-shaped or U-shaped manner. A V-shaped or U-shaped groove 80 is formed by the projection 77, the web 79 and the central area 78 of the frame element 37 to 40, opening substantially inward in the radial direction R. Here, a surface 81 that is facing towards the central area 78 and that is substantially rectilinear in the radial direction R in the shown cross-section is part of the projection 77 as well as part of the groove 80.

In the present case, the insert device 48 and the frame elements 37, 38, 39, 40 of the frame structure 61 have a substantially comparable structure and are embodied with an inner layer 94, a middle or intermediate layer 95, and an outer layer 96. In the present case, the inner layer 94 and the outer layer 96 are configured with a metallic material, whereas the middle layer 95 is embodied with a sound-absorbing material. As can be seen in more detail in FIG. 17 in a strongly schematized manner, here the inner layer 94 and the outer layer 96 can have multiple, for example perforated, layers 97 or 98. Here, the structure of the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 are chosen in such a manner that the insert devices 48 and the frame structure 61 can reliably withstand loads that occur during operation of the jet engine 10, and that a side of the wall 32 that is facing away from the bypass channel 30 is secured against potential entry of fire and is separated in an airtight manner from the bypass channel 30 to the desired degree.

In the embodiment of the insert device 48 and of the frame element 40 of the frame structure 61 shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, the grooves 73 or 80 and the projections 72 or 77 of the insert device 48 and of the frame element 40 are an integral part of the middle layer 95 only.

In the mounted state of the insert device 48, the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 in particular act together via the surfaces 74 and 81, wherein here the surfaces 74 and 81 act together in the cross-section along a line of contact K according to FIG. 11. In addition, in the mounted state of the insert device 48, the projection 72 abuts a surface 105 of the groove 80 of the frame structure 61, which is arranged on a side of the surface 74 that is facing towards the central area 78 of the frame structure 61, with a surface 75 that is facing towards a central area 78 of the frame structure 61. In a comparable manner, when the insert device 48 is mounted, the projection 77 of the frame structure 61 also abuts a surface 104 of the groove 73 of the insert device 48 with a surface 82 that is arranged on a side of the surface 81 that is facing towards the central area 70 of the insert device 48, wherein a top area of the projections 72 or 77 is respectively arranged at a distance from the groove base of the groove 80 or the groove 73.

The surfaces 74 and 81 that are formed by a substantially planar line in the cross-section are in total preferably embodied in a conical manner, wherein the line of contact K, which is defined by a surface vector that is arranged perpendicular to a surface normal of the surfaces 74 and 81, in the present case together with the radial direction R encloses an angle 83 in the area of the line of contact K. In particular, the angle 83 is preferably constant along the entire edge area 67 of the insert device 48. Here, an area of the surfaces 74 and 81 that is external with respect to the radial direction R extends further in the direction of the central area 70 of the insert device 48 than an area of the surfaces 74 and 81 that is internal with respect to the radial direction R. In this manner, in the mounted position of the insert device 48, a force that substantially acts in the direction of the central area 70 of the insert device 48 is induced on the insert device 48 and a force that is substantially opposite hereto is induced in the frame structure 61 through forces that act on the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 during operation of the jet engine 10, so that the insert device 48 is retained securely at the frame structure 61. Apart from the improved retention of the insert device 48 at the frame structure 61, which results in an improved force transmission between the frame structure 61 and the insert device 48, a sealing effect between the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 is also improved in this way.

The insert device 48 that is embodied so as to be substantially concentric to the engine axis 1 in the circumferential direction U, as is indicated by reference sign D in FIGS. 10 to FIG. 13, can be brought from the side of the frame structure 61 that is internal with respect to the radial direction R into the position where it is connected to the frame elements 37 to 40 shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 in a translational mounting motion starting from the position shown in FIG. 12. In the cross-sectional view according to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the mounting direction or dismantling direction D extends substantially in the direction of an angle bisector of the surfaces 81 and 105 and the surfaces 74 and 104, which in the present case are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other. Here, an angle 84 of larger than 0°, in the present case of approximately 3°, which is referred to as a draft, is present between the mounting direction D and the line of contact K. For one thing, the angle 84 is provided for manufacturing-related reasons and, for another thing, in order to avoid any blocking of parts during dismantling of the insert device 48 in a simple manner.

The angle bisectors of the surfaces 81 and 105 or of the surfaces 74 and 104 are substantially oriented in the mounting or dismantling direction D in every circumferential area of the insert device 48, so that mounting as well as dismantling of the insert device 48 can be performed in a simple manner.

In order to facilitate mounting or dismantling of the insert device 48, a handle element that is not shown in any more detail can be arranged on the side of the insert device 48 that is facing away from the bypass channel 30.

During operation of the jet engine 10, a higher pressure is applied to the side of the wall 32 that is facing towards the bypass channel 30 than to a side of the wall 32 that is facing away from the bypass channel 30. In this manner, a force that substantially acts outwards with respect to the radial direction R is applied to the wall 32. Due to the angled arrangement of the surfaces 74 and 81 with respect to the radial direction R, these forces are transformed into a force that acts in the circumferential direction U and that retains the insert device 48 at the frame structure 61. Further, the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 are widened during operation of the jet engine 10 due to the high rotational speeds. Due to these effects, forces in the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 are transmitted via the surface 74 of the projection 72 of the insert device 48 and the surface 81 of the projection 77 of the frame structure 61, pulling the insert device 48 in the direction of its central area 70 or the frame structure 61 in direction of its central area 78 and retaining the insert device 48 in its position in which it is arranged at the frame structure 61.

In order to reliably keep the insert device 48 in its position in which it is arranged at the frame structure 61 in particular also in the event that only a low pressure acts in the area of the bypass channel 30, the insert device 48 is secured in the mounted position through attachment means that are for example embodied as screws 85. For this purpose, bores 87, 88 that substantially extend in the radial direction R are provided in the edge area 67 of the insert device 48 and in the edge area 68 of the frame structure 61, being arranged so as to be concentric and aligned with each other in the mounted state of the insert device 48. From a side that is internal with respect to the radial direction R, nuts 89 are presently inserted into the bores 87 of the insert device 48, with the nuts 89 being arranged so as to be flush with a surface of the insert device 48 which is oriented in the direction of the bypass channel 30. For the purpose of securing the insert device 48 at the frame structure 61, screws 85 can be guided through the bores 87 and 88 and can be brought into operative connection with the nuts 89 from the outside with respect to the radial direction R.

The insert device 48 that is shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 is configured with a connection device 101 that is embodied in an alternative manner to the connection device 64. In addition, the frame structure 61 is embodied with a connection device 102 that is embodied in an alternative manner to the connection device 65, wherein in the following only the differences of the connection devices 101 or 102 to the connection device 64 or 65 will be discussed.

The connection device 101 of the insert device 48 differs from the connection device 64 of the insert device 48 substantially in the fact that the groove 73 and the projection 72 form a wave-shaped surface and the surface 74 extends further in the direction of the central area 78 of the frame structure 61 with an area that is external with respect to the radial direction R than with an area that is internal with respect to the radial direction R. Further, surface 104 of the groove 73 that is facing towards the central area 70 of the insert device 48 is formed by the outer layer 96, which in the edge area 67 extends obliquely inwards in the radial direction R in the mounted position of the insert device 48.

In the cross-section, the connection device 102 of the frame structure 61 is embodied in a substantially mirror-symmetrical or complementary manner to the connection device 101 of the insert device 48. Correspondingly, the projection 77 and the groove 80 are also embodied with a wave-shaped surface. Further, the surface 81 extends further in the direction of the central area 70 of the frame structure 61 with an area that is external with respect to the radial direction R than with an area that is internal with respect to the radial direction R. In addition, the surface 105 of the groove 80 that is facing towards the central area 78 of the frame structure 61 is formed by the inner layer 96 of the frame structure 61 that extends obliquely outwards in the radial direction R in the edge area 68.

In the area of the locking device 101 as well as in the area of the locking counter device 102, bores 106, 107 are provided that are distributed circumferentially with respect to the respective edge areas 67, 68 and that are arranged in an aligned and concentric manner with respect to each other in the mounted state of the insert device 48, wherein the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 can be connected to each other in a releasable manner by means of an attachment means that is embodied as a screw 109.

FIG. 18 to FIG. 20 show another alternatively embodied connection device 115 of the insert device and an alternatively embodied connection device 116 of the frame structure 61 in a strongly schematized rendering. At that, the connection device 115 as well as the connection device 116 are formed exclusively by the inner layer 94 of the insert device 46 or the frame structure 61. Starting from an edge area 117 that adjoins the middle layer 95 of the frame structure 61 with a middle layer 95 of the insert device 46, the connection device 115 of the insert device 48 extends in a direction that is oriented away from the central area 70 of the insert device 48 and in cross-section has multiple, in the present case four, projections 118 that are arranged next to each other and that in the present case can be respectively embodied in a manner comparable to the projection 72. Grooves 119 are respectively formed between neighboring projections 118, which in turn can be embodied in a manner substantially comparable to the groove 73.

The connection device 116 of the frame structure 61 is embodied so as to be at least approximately complementary to the connection device 115 and also has four projections 121 and four grooves 122, which in turn can be embodied in a manner comparable to the projection 77 or the groove 80. In the cross-section, the connection device 115 as well as the connection device 116 can have a wave-shaped profile that is shown in FIG. 19 in a strongly schematized manner as well as a jagged profile that is shown in FIG. 20 in a strongly schematized manner.

If the insert device 48 is mounted, a friction coefficient between the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 is advantageously large due to a coaction of the connection devices 115 and 116, so that a sealing effect between the insert device 48 and the frame structure 61 is also high during operation of the jet engine 10, and only a small number of attachment means, which are indicated in a schematic manner and can for example be embodied as bolts 124, is necessary for connecting the insert device 48 to the frame structure 61. Further, through the configuration of the connection devices 115 and 116 exclusively by the inner layer 94, the structure is not affected or affected only to a small extent, so that the middle layer 95 has a particularly good sound-absorbing effect.

It can also be provided that the locking device is embodied as a separate structural component and is in particular connected to a middle layer of the frame structure, for example by means of bonding or another fixating method.

FIG. 21 shows a wall 140 that is embodied in an alternative manner to wall 32 and does not have a frame structure, and which in the present case is configured with four oval or elliptical recesses 141 that are embodied with the same shape. In the area of the recesses 141, insert devices which cannot be seen in any more detail can be inserted, wherein the insert devices can be brought into operative connection with the wall in the manner described more closely above.

PARTS LIST

-   1 engine axis -   10 turbomachine; jet engine -   11 air inlet -   12 fan -   13 intermediate pressure compressor -   14 high pressure compressor -   15 combustion chamber -   16 high pressure turbine -   17 intermediate pressure turbine -   18 low pressure turbine -   19 exhaust nozzle -   20 guide blade/vane -   21 engine shroud -   22 compressor rotor blade/vane -   23 guide blade/vane -   24 turbine blade/vane -   26 disc -   27 hub -   28 outlet cone -   30 bypass channel -   31 engine core -   32 to 35 wall -   36 frame structure -   37 to 39 ring-shaped frame element -   40 further frame element -   44 first corner point -   45 second corner point -   46 third corner point -   48 to 50 insert device -   51 constructional unit -   52 pre-cooling device -   53, 54 retention device -   55 flap device -   56, 57 arrow -   58 actuator -   59 A-frame -   61 frame structure -   64 connection device -   65 connection device -   67 edge area of the insert device -   68 edge area of the frame structure -   70 middle area of the insert device -   71 web -   72 projection -   73 groove -   74, 75 surface -   77 projection -   78 central area -   79 web -   80 groove -   81, 82 surface -   83, 84 angle -   85 attachment means; screw -   87, 88 bore -   89 nut -   94 inner layer -   95 middle layer -   96 outer layer -   97, 98 layer -   101 connection device -   102 connection device -   104 surface of the groove of the insert device -   105 surface of the groove of the frame structure -   106, 107 bore -   109 attachment means; screw -   115 connection device -   116 connection device -   117 edge area of the insert device -   118 projection -   119 groove -   121 projection -   122 groove -   124 attachment means; bolt -   140 wall -   141 recess -   A flow direction -   D mounting or dismantling direction -   K line of contact -   R radial direction -   U circumferential direction 

1. A turbomachine with a wall that extends at least in certain areas circumferentially to a central axis of the turbomachine, and with at least one insert device that can be connected at the wall in a releasable manner in the area of a recess arranged in the wall, wherein the insert device has a connection device by means of which the insert device can be brought into operative connection with a connection device of the wall, wherein, in the mounted state of the insert device, the connection device of the insert device has a projection that extends substantially in the radial direction of the turbomachine at least in certain areas, and which in the mounted state of the insert device meshes in the groove of the connection device of the wall, and wherein the connection device of the wall has a projection that, in the mounted state of the insert device, extends substantially in the radial direction of the turbomachine at least in certain areas, and which in the mounted state of the insert device meshes in the groove of the connection device of the insert device.
 2. The turbomachine according to claim 1, wherein the projection of the insert device or the projection of the wall has a surface which is also the surface of the groove of the insert device or the groove of the wall.
 3. The turbomachine according to claim 2, wherein the projection of the insert device and the projection of the wall are embodied in such a manner that the insert device can be brought in mesh with the wall in a translational motion.
 4. The turbomachine according to claim 1, wherein the wall and the insert device respectively have multiple projections and grooves.
 5. The turbomachine according to claim 4, wherein the grooves and the projections of the insert device and the grooves and the projections of the wall form a wave-shaped or a jagged profile in cross-section.
 6. The turbomachine according to claim 1, wherein the projection and/or the groove of the insert device and/or of the wall is or are arranged at the wall in a circumferential manner with respect to an edge area of the recess or at the insert device in a circumferential manner with respect to an edge area of the insert device.
 7. The turbomachine according to claim 1, wherein the insert device is retained at the wall in the area of the recess via at least one attachment means in the mounted position of the insert device.
 8. The turbomachine according to claim 1, wherein the insert device has a handle-like element at a radially outer side in the mounted position of the insert device.
 9. The turbomachine according to claim 1, wherein the insert device and the wall have a comparable structure in the cross-section and in particular are respectively embodied with a sound-absorbing middle layer, an inner layer, and an outer layer.
 10. The turbomachine according to claim 9, wherein the connection device of the insert device and/or the connection device of the wall are formed by the middle layer and/or the outer layer and/or the inner layer of the wall or of the insert device
 11. The turbomachine according to claim 1, wherein the projection of the insert device is connected to a web of the insert device, which, in the mounted position of the insert device, is arranged on a side of a web of the wall which is internal with respect to the radial direction of the turbomachine and via which the projection is connected to the wall.
 12. The turbomachine according to claim 1, wherein the wall has a frame structure that forms multiple recesses, wherein multiple insert devices are provided which respectively have a shape that substantially corresponds to a shape of a recess of the frame structure, and wherein each insert device can be brought into operative connection with the frame structure in the area of a recess in a releasable manner.
 13. The turbomachine according to claim 12, wherein the recesses of the frame structure and the insert devices are configured in a triangle-shaped manner.
 14. The turbomachine according to claim 12, wherein the frame structure of the wall completely surrounds an axial area of the turbomachine in the circumferential direction of the turbomachine.
 15. The turbomachine according to claim 12, wherein the frame structure forms only triangle-shaped recesses which can be brought into operative connection with respectively one releasable insert device. 